In a significant development impacting Kerala's organ donation ecosystem, a senior nephrologist has resigned from a key administrative position following a controversy stemming from his social media criticism of the state's transplant programme.
Resignation Over Freedom of Expression
Dr M K Mohandas, the head of the nephrology department at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, stepped down from his role as the south zone nodal officer of the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (K-SOTTO). He announced his resignation through a Facebook post, stating that his fundamental right to freedom of expression was at stake. This move came directly after the state health department sought a formal explanation from him for his earlier critical remarks about K-SOTTO's operations on the same platform.
The Social Media Post That Sparked the Row
The chain of events began when Dr Mohandas published a post on Facebook where he strongly criticised the functioning of K-SOTTO, labelling it a failure. The post quickly gained traction and attention before being withdrawn. While the doctor later clarified that he had no intention to defame the government, the disciplinary process had already been set in motion. The health authorities demanded an explanation for his public criticism, which ultimately led to his protest resignation.
K-SOTTO's Counter-Statement and Performance Data
Following the resignation, K-SOTTO issued a clarification, noting that Dr Mohandas was not a core member of their organization but was an official appointed by the Directorate of Medical Education (DME). The agency stated that disciplinary action was initiated because a government officer, tasked with coordinating the programme, had failed in his duties and portrayed K-SOTTO in a negative light on social media.
The organization also provided a pointed performance metric, revealing that in the past two years, only one posthumous organ donation was conducted at the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College under Dr Mohandas's watch. He was responsible for implementing the programme across four southern districts: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, and Alappuzha.
K-SOTTO authorities further commented that if Dr Mohandas wished to be relieved of his duties for personal reasons, he should have submitted his resignation through the proper channel via the DME, rather than announcing it on social media.
The incident highlights the tensions between bureaucratic protocol, public criticism by officials, and the challenges faced by Kerala's organ donation initiative, which relies heavily on coordination and positive public engagement.
